Improved apparatus for the manufacture of iron and steel



Uiurrnn STATES Barum* Uri-uca.

CHARLES ADAMS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL'VANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES SHARPE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 0F IRONA AND STEEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,l39, dated December 21, 15569.

To all whom it may concern.;

Be it known that I, CHARLEs ADAMs, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Apparatus for the Manufacture of Iron and Steel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a converter composed of a pipe or chamber so depressed ator near the middle as to form a lodgment for molten ore, the said pipe communicating at one end with any suitable apparatus for generating carboni@ oxideunder pressure, andhaving at its opposite end a weighted valve, or its equivalent, by which the carbonio oxide is 1 maintained under pressure in the converter.

The object of myinvention is to convert molten ore directly into wrought-iron, steel, or cast-iron without first separating the metal by the aid of the usual costly blast-furnace.

The figure in the drawing represents a vertical section of my apparatus for the manufacture of iron and steel.

A represents a furnace or chamber for generating carbonio oxide, the chamber consisting, in the present instance,of a tapering structure, in the interior, near the bottoln, of which is a grate, a, for supporting the fuel for generating carbonic oxide. In the side of the furnace, below the grate, is an opening, b, throughwhich air is forced by any suitable appliances. The top of the furnace is provided with a cover, d, made detachable, so that the interior of the furnace may be readily lined from time. to time with suitable refractory material. It should be understood inv the outset that although I have shown a structure for generating carbonic oxide, I do not desire to confine myself to any specific apparatus for this purpose, all that is necessary in carrying out my inventionbeing theintroduction of carbonic oxide under pressure into the converter, which, as shown in the drawing, consists of two inclined pipes, B and B, sosecured together at ac as to be detachable from each other. The pipe B is secured to and communicates with a vertical pipe, D, having a detachable cover, e, and this pipe communicates through a branch, E, (consisting, in the present instance, of two sections,) with the generating-furnace. The pipe B is turned upward near its outer end, and is provided with a weighted valve, f.

The ore to be treated is reduced to a molten state in any suitable furnace, and is then introduced into the converter through the outer end of the pipe B, the valve f being frstmoved on one side. After the molten ore has reached to about the level of the dotted line y in the converter, the valve is replaced and the blast is introduced below the grate a, forced through the latter and through the ignited fuel on the grate, and thence, in the condition of carbonio oxide, through the pipes E andD and through the mass of molten ore in the converter, the valvef being so weighted that the carbonio oxide shall be always under a pressure that ore melted in any suitable furnace directly into iron or steel by subjecting it to the actionA of carbonio oxide under pressure, thereby dispensing with the tedious and costly process of iirst separating the metal from the other parts of the ore,as in a blast-furnace. The conversion of the molten iron into wrought-iron, pigiron, or steel may be effected by the above-de-.

scribed apparatus in a comparatively short time, the quality of the metal being determined by the quantity of carbon diffused through it after deoxidation.

W rought-iron may be produced more rapidly than steel, and the production of cast-iron demands a longer continuation of the process than steel requires. Those experienced in the manufacture of iron and steel can readily detect the condition of the metal in the converter by that of the flame which escapes at the outer end of the pipe B.

The contents of the converter may be withdrawn through a tapping-hole, m, (this being properly plugged during the continuation of the process,) the metal and slag escaping together, to be afterward easily separated, ow-

ing to the lightness of the slag compared with that of the metal.

I prefer to make the converter and the pipes leading to the same in pieces detachable from each other, as this plan alords the best facilities for readily cleaning the interior and lining the same with refractory material from time to time.

I do not desire to confine myself to the special construction of the parts described, as they may be modied Without departing from the main feature of the invention.`

I claim- A converter consisting of a pipe or chamber depressed at or near the middle, substantially as described, and communicating at one end with any suitable apparatus for generating carbonio oxide, and having at its opposite or outlet end a weighted valve or its equivalent, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of twosnbscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES ADAMS.

Witnesses:

Giants. R. Rrionns, JOHN Tns'r. 

